AGP Executive Report

SCOTUS Redistricting: The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama Republicans to use a 2023 congressional map in the 2026 midterms, a move that would eliminate one of the state’s two majority-Black districts; Democrats and civil-rights advocates blasted the decision as a dangerous retreat from the Voting Rights Act, while conservative justices said Alabama was likely to prevail and faulted lower courts for not applying the standards from Louisiana v. Callais. Candidate Reaction: In the wake of the ruling, Rep. Shomari Figures said it signals the end of the Voting Rights Act, while GOP candidates in CD-1 and CD-2 praised the decision as a win for Republican values. Residency Fight: Separate from the map fight, Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s team filed tax-return and property-tax material in his residency challenge, keeping the question of where he actually lives in play. UF Leadership: University of Florida forums begin Wednesday for presidential finalist Stuart Bell, with student, faculty, and staff sessions scheduled at Emerson Alumni Hall. Local Governance & Community: Gov. Kay Ivey ordered flags lowered for late state lawmaker and judge John Amari; Orange Beach Councilman Jerry Johnson resigned to care for his hospitalized grandson; and TARCOG announced a tri-county career fair for case managers and senior employment roles.

Redistricting Fight: The U.S. Supreme Court cleared Alabama’s 2023 congressional map for the 2026 midterms, letting Republicans use a plan that cuts the state down to one majority-Black district; the 6-3 ruling blocks a lower-court order and could flip the seat held by Rep. Shomari Figures, with Justice Sotomayor warning it risks “chaotic” elections under a never-before-used map. College Sports Policy: The Big Ten and SEC said they don’t support the Protect College Sports Act “as drafted,” citing unresolved issues and warning it could expand litigation and disrupt revenue-sharing rules. Public Safety: ALEA and Montevallo police issued a missing-and-endangered alert for 78-year-old Kathryn Ellen Dexter, last seen June 1 and possibly driving a white 1991 Mazda MX-5. Law Enforcement: ALEA K-9 Toby received a bullet- and stab-resistant vest via a national nonprofit donation. Courts & Politics: Rep. Juandalynn Givan sued over a Democratic House District 60 opponent’s eligibility, alleging she was disqualified for working in Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office. Crime: Authorities are investigating multiple shootings in Lowndes County over two weekends, including one homicide.

Alabama Redistricting: Alabama’s congressional map fight is back in the spotlight as plaintiffs urge the U.S. Supreme Court to keep a “race-blind” approach for 2026, arguing there’s no time to reassign voters and that the 2023 map still violates Section 2 after Louisiana v. Callais. State Senate Special Primary: The Alabama GOP says qualifying is closed for Senate Districts 25 and 26—only Sen. Will Barfoot qualified on the Republican side for District 25, while District 26 has no GOP qualifier; the special primary is set for Aug. 11. PSC Expansion: Republican House leadership has sent Gov. Kay Ivey recommendations for two of the new Public Service Commission seats created by the PSC expansion law, with Ivey appointments due by July 15. U.S. Senate Runoff Politics: A new Alabama Poll shows Jared Hudson leading in the GOP Senate runoff, while Katherine Robertson and Wes Allen lead in their respective AG and lieutenant governor runoffs—candidates dispute a “suppression poll” narrative. Gun Rights Endorsement: NRA-PVF endorses U.S. Rep. Barry Moore for the Senate runoff, highlighting his opposition to gun-control proposals and support for suppressor-related changes. Death Penalty Update: A federal judge upheld Alabama’s nitrogen hypoxia execution protocol, clearing the way for Jeffery Lee’s scheduled execution. College Sports: Nick Saban is set to testify at a U.S. Senate hearing on the Protect College Sports Act, as lawmakers push for rules on transfers, eligibility, recruiting, and NIL.

Perry County Election Fight: Marion businessman Donald Bennett was certified winner over Albert Turner by one vote, but Turner is appealing the recount denial to the State Democratic Executive Committee after Probate Judge Carlton Hogue said Turner missed the statutory challenge deadline. Voting Rights in Court: Civil rights groups urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject Alabama’s emergency bid to revive a 2023 congressional map with one majority-Black district, warning a last-minute switch could cause voter confusion and administrative errors. GOP Leadership & Runoffs: Pat Bishop endorsed John Wahl in Alabama’s lieutenant governor runoff, while the Alabama Republican Party scheduled a June 14 hearing on Tommy Tuberville’s residency challenge. Redistricting Backdrop: Election experts and officials warned Alabama’s map fight could trigger election chaos, as the state and national GOP groups continue filing briefs. Public Safety & Crime: Chickasaw County, Miss., authorities arrested 59 people and seized 164 fighting roosters in a large cockfighting bust with alleged interstate participants. Local Disruptions: Alabama Highway 69 in northern Tuscaloosa County temporarily closed after storms brought down power lines. Policy Debate: Dem lieutenant governor candidate Phillip Ensler called for a data center construction moratorium amid concerns over transparency, environmental impacts, and energy costs.

Auburn Murder Trial: Harold Dabney III was indicted on two counts of capital murder in the killing of retired Auburn professor Julie Schnuelle, keeping him jailed without bond; the case drew national attention after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk commented on it days before his own death. State Senate Special Primary: Alabama GOP qualifying opens Monday for State Senate Districts 25 and 26, with the special primary set for Aug. 11 after the 11th Circuit allowed use of the 2021 state Senate map. Election Integrity Scrutiny: A new video in Cullman County raises fresh questions about gambling machines tied to businesses connected to Sheriff Matt Gentry’s campaign and Lt. Chad Whaley’s bid. Corrections Contract Controversy: Alabama’s new prison health care provider, NaphCare, faces controversy in other states, prompting lawmakers to consider contract review. Family Values Proclamation: Gov. Kay Ivey signed a “Strong Families Month” proclamation that explicitly promotes “homes led by a father and mother,” drawing criticism over its stance on same-sex marriage. Runoff Politics: Pat Bishop endorsed John Wahl in the GOP lieutenant governor runoff, adding to Wahl’s momentum against Wes Allen. Public Health Warning: The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners warned providers not to prescribe “research-grade” peptides, citing lack of FDA approval and safety oversight. Federal Trade Watch: U.S. senators expanded an inquiry into imported shrimp, pressing major seafood certification groups over health risks. Civic Education: Alabama’s American Legion Auxiliary Girls State opened in Tuscaloosa with more than 400 delegates, including appearances by Ivey and Sen. Katie Britt. Sports: Auburn baseball forced a winner-take-all NCAA regional Monday after beating Milwaukee 8-1, setting up the final game.

Redistricting & Elections: Gov. Kay Ivey voided primary results and called a special election for Alabama State Senate Districts 25 and 26 after a court allowed the state to revert to an older map, with the special election set for Aug. 11. Public Safety & Policy: State Rep. Matt Hanson (D-Montgomery) advanced a bill expanding law enforcement discretion in juvenile domestic abuse cases by removing a requirement to use a specific risk-typing tool and urging officers to consider mental health, trauma, intoxication, and other factors. Weather Watch: The National Weather Service flagged a Monday severe-storm threat across central Alabama, with damaging winds the main concern and hail risk lowered to large hail up to quarter-size. Violence Prevention Spending: Montgomery’s Office of Violence Prevention paid $220,143 in overtime to employees since 2022, including one liaison’s $176,334. Medical Cannabis: Alabama’s stalled medical marijuana program took a step forward as a Montgomery dispensary opened May 4 and additional licenses are set to bring the total toward 12 locations statewide. Community & Tragedy: Selma marked a young girl’s birthday with a balloon release after she was killed in a home shooting. Sports: Auburn baseball’s NCAA regional matchup vs. UCF shifted after weather delays, setting up a key Sunday game.

Education & Safety: Marshall County Schools fired Asbury High School coach/math teacher Kyle Rusk after a state-referred investigation into alleged student grooming and an “inappropriate” relationship. Courts & Public Safety: A Tuscaloosa judge authorized involuntary medication for a capital murder suspect, Matthew Taylor, citing a mental health danger assessment while he’s accused in the killing of nurse Ada Doss. Law Enforcement: Authorities are searching for four inmates who escaped the Perry County Correctional PREP Center in Uniontown, with charges including murder and robbery. Corrections: ADOC reported multiple arrests tied to contraband attempts at Ventress Correctional Facility, including meth and marijuana trafficking charges. Federal Appointments: Thomas R. Govan Jr. was sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. Politics & Governance: Alabama’s redistricting fight continues as the state seeks Supreme Court action to keep GOP-favored maps in play after lower-court rulings. Housing & Utilities: Alabama and Georgia homeowners are scrambling after Trump EPA cancellations of grants aimed at cutting utility bills. Opinion: A new debate over the death penalty spotlights nitrogen execution concerns and Alabama’s broader role in capital punishment policy.

Alabama Redistricting: Alabama Senate Pro Tem Garlan Gudger says a key 11th Circuit ruling clears the way for elections in State Senate Districts 25 and 26 using the 2021 maps, calling them “fairly drawn” and criticizing the lawsuit as a waste of time and money. Voting Rights Fallout: The week’s broader legal fight over the Voting Rights Act continues to reverberate, with coverage noting the Supreme Court’s recent decisions have sharply narrowed protections and triggered new map challenges. Federal Courts & Alabama Politics: The state’s redistricting battles remain tied up in federal court orders and appeals, with officials reacting to rulings that either block or allow specific map versions for upcoming contests. Public Safety: ALEA kicked off its “101 Days of Summer” campaign after Memorial Day fatalities, highlighting DUI arrests, speeding citations, and seat belt enforcement as summer travel ramps up. Wildlife & Outdoors: Alabama’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries division is asking the public to help with a wild turkey brood survey starting June 1 through Aug. 31 to improve statewide data.

Redistricting Court Fight: The 11th Circuit stayed a lower-court ruling blocking Alabama’s 2021 State Senate map, clearing the way for Senate District 25 and 26 to use “fairly drawn maps,” and Gov. Kay Ivey called an Aug. 11 special primary (no runoff) after the May 19 results were voided. Election Integrity: Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen weighed in on Jefferson County curbside voting videos from the May primary, saying state law restricts ballot handling and voting equipment outside polling places. Public Safety: ALEA kicked off its 101 Days of Summer Safety campaign after Memorial Day weekend fatalities across multiple counties, urging seat belts, no distracted driving, and no DUI on roads or waterways. State Government: Ivey signed proclamations marking June 2026 as “Strong Families Month” and highlighted teacher pay and support initiatives. Courts & Speech: A federal judge ruled UA didn’t violate students’ free speech rights by closing two campus magazines. Local Crime: A Columbus, Ga., woman was arrested after an armed Dollar General robbery in Smiths Station, with police recovering cash and a handgun.

Alabama Redistricting Fight: The U.S. solicitor general filed an amicus brief backing Alabama in the Milligan v. Allen congressional map case, arguing the lower court’s injunction was “tainted” by an improper reading of Louisiana v. Callais and that the state’s failure to draw a second Black opportunity district doesn’t prove intentional discrimination. GOP Runoff Politics: Lieutenant governor runoff momentum is building—John Wahl says his campaign raised more than $500,000 in the first week after finishing first in the May 19 primary, while Wes Allen’s campaign raised far less in the same period. Attorney General Race: Alabama’s AG runoff is also tightening as prosecutors line up—District Attorney Andy Hamlin endorsed Jay Mitchell, while Walker County DA Bill Adair backed Katherine Robertson. Courts & Public Safety: A federal judge ruled nitrogen gas executions are constitutional, clearing the way for Alabama’s June 11 execution of Jeffery Lee. Justice in Mobile: A Mobile County judge sentenced Darius Lucky to two life-without-parole terms for the 2023 killing of 9-year-old Cailee Knight. State Government & Economy: Gov. Kay Ivey urged Alabama small businesses to enter the SBA’s Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition, offering up to $1 million in prizes. Coastal Update: Alabama’s shrimping season opens June 1 at 6 a.m. in multiple coastal waters, including Mobile Bay and Bon Secour Bay.

Alabama Redistricting: The 11th Circuit cleared the way for Alabama to use a state legislative map found to violate the Voting Rights Act, a move tied to the post–Louisiana v. Callais scramble over how much race-based dilution claims can still succeed. Federal Courts: Alabama’s congressional map fight keeps bouncing back and forth as the state seeks Supreme Court intervention and emergency stays while plaintiffs argue the GOP-friendly lines were tainted by intentional race discrimination. U.S. Attorney: Phillip W. Williams Jr. was sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, taking over federal prosecutions across 31 counties. Public Safety: I-20 in St. Clair County reopened after an overturned 18-wheeler spilled scrap metal and shut down westbound lanes for hours. Local Government: Fort Deposit’s new mayor, Madelene Means, says her first months focus on fixing city operations and pitching the town as “open for business.” Health & Welfare: HHS is offering $6 million to help states pilot predictive analytics in child welfare systems. Corrections & Courts: A federal judge upheld nitrogen gas executions as constitutional, clearing the way for Alabama’s next scheduled use.

Alabama Redistricting Fight: Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed emergency stay applications with the U.S. Supreme Court to restore the state’s 2023 congressional map after a federal court reimposed an injunction blocking it for the 2026 election cycle, arguing the lower court misread Louisiana v. Callais and improperly interfered with state law. Federal Support: The U.S. Department of Justice also backed Alabama in the Supreme Court fight, saying the district court failed to properly separate race from partisanship and ignored Alabama’s stated political goals. Courtroom Update: A federal court recently upheld UA’s decision to shutter two student publications, rejecting a request for an injunction and finding the action “reasonable” rather than viewpoint censorship. Runoff Politics: The lieutenant governor runoff remains tangled in residency attacks, with Wes Allen and John Wahl trading claims about eligibility and Tennessee ties ahead of the June 16 vote. Agriculture Commissioner Race: State Sen. Jack Williams endorsed Corey Hill for Agriculture Commissioner, framing the runoff as a farmers-first choice while Hill pushes a rural crime task force. Public Safety: Birmingham Municipal Court announced “Court Amnesty Month” for June to help people resolve Failure to Appear warrants and related obligations without immediate arrest. Local Government: Foley selected four high school students for a summer internship program with the city through Baldwin County’s utilities internship effort. Public Health/Policy: A national push for paid family leave is highlighted by a Florida report arguing the state should mandate paid leave for all workers. Crime & Drugs: Police reported a major marijuana and weapons seizure tied to a task force traffic stop in Savannah, underscoring ongoing drug-and-gun enforcement.

Alabama Redistricting Fight: AG Steve Marshall asked the U.S. Supreme Court to fast-track its decision on Alabama’s congressional map, arguing the state needs clarity fast to avoid election chaos and to use the 2023 GOP-favored districts. Election Logistics: Gov. Kay Ivey extended the certification deadline for the Aug. 11 special primary by five days, moving it to June 3, to give Alabama time to react to whatever the Supreme Court does next week. Local Consumer Fraud: In Mobile, multiple families say roof and window companies took thousands of dollars and left them with nothing, with law enforcement investigating. Public Safety & Courts: Alabama’s medical examiners warned doctors against using “research-grade” or non-FDA-approved peptides, citing safety and quality concerns. Immigration Enforcement Challenge: In Mobile, a construction worker testified in a federal hearing seeking an injunction against warrantless ICE entry and detentions at construction sites. Community & Crime Prevention: The West Alabama Intercept Task Force urged parents to help investigators in internet sex-crime cases, stressing prevention as online tactics evolve. Environment: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper filed a federal Clean Water Act lawsuit over muddy stormwater from a Columbus construction site. Statewide Politics: A new poll shows Alabama’s GOP U.S. Senate runoff tightening to a one-point race between Barry Moore and Jared Hudson.

Redistricting Fight: A three-judge federal panel blocked Alabama from using its 2023 congressional map for the 2026 midterms, saying it was “tainted by intentional race-based discrimination” and ordering elections to proceed under a court-ordered, race-blind remedial map that preserves a second Black-opportunity district; Legal Fallout: Alabama immediately moved to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, while Rep. Terri Sewell called the ruling a rebuke of GOP efforts to silence Black voters; Judicial Discipline: Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard was suspended after a 120-page complaint alleged she delayed cases, bullied staff, and treated her courtroom like “ultimate authority, no boss”; State Government: A Democratic Alabama Public Service Commission candidate sued over HB 475, arguing lawmakers changed PSC structure mid-election; Public Health: The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners warned doctors against prescribing non-FDA-approved “research-grade” peptides; Civil Rights Legacy: Clarence B. Jones, a close MLK adviser and co-writer of “I Have a Dream,” died at 95.

Redistricting Fight: A three-judge federal panel blocked Alabama from using its GOP-backed congressional map for 2026, ordering the state back to a court-drawn plan that keeps two majority-Black districts—setting up a fast appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and putting the Aug. 11 special primary in doubt. Statehouse Fallout: Gov. Kay Ivey backed the appeal and said she hopes the Supreme Court lets Alabama proceed, while Sec. of State Wes Allen reminded voters the June 1 registration deadline is for the June 16 runoff. Civil Rights Backlash: The SPLC escalated its own legal fight, asking a federal judge to toss the DOJ’s indictment against it as “vindictive prosecution.” Local & Federal Watch: Sen. Katie Britt pushed the Army Corps to speed up Mobile Harbor permitting, and the FBI Birmingham office teamed with a Huntsville elementary school to teach internet safety and drone tech. Other Alabama Notes: Read Freely Alabama won a $40K grant to expand its book-ban and library-censorship push.

Redistricting Court Clash: A three-judge federal panel blocked Alabama from using a 2023 GOP-drawn congressional map, saying the lines were “intentionally discriminated based on race,” and ordered the state to stick with court-ordered districts for 2026—another blow to Republicans trying to reshape seats after the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act setback. GOP Senate Runoff Tightens: A pro-Hudson Alabama Conservatives PAC poll shows Jared Hudson and Barry Moore nearly tied in the June 16 runoff (41% vs. 40%), with many voters still undecided. Democrats Push Forward: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Dakarai Larriett advanced to a June 16 runoff, setting up a rare moment for Alabama Democrats. Gambling Power Play: DraftKings/FanDuel-backed spending helped deliver wins in Alabama GOP primaries, signaling national money is moving earlier in the process. Public Safety & Crime: A Montgomery man was convicted in federal court for a 2025 robbery spree targeting multiple businesses. Veterans Outdoors: Gov. Ivey is promoting free state-park access and lodging discounts for veterans and active-duty families.